Polish Nalewka Cherry Cordial Liqueur (Wisniak)

A Polish nalewka is an aged cordial. The most common types are made with fruit and either vodka or rectified spirits. This recipe for cherry nalewka or wiśniak is traditionally made with Morello cherries, a sour type of cherry. If Morello cherries aren't available in your area, you can certainly use sour pie cherries. No matter which type of sour cherries you use, snap them up during cherry season in your area. While you might be able to buy fresh cherries year-round, fully ripened local cherries have the most flavor and are the best cherries for this recipe. 

Starting the cordial in the summer during cherry season is not too early because the cordial needs to steep for at least three months. The longer the cherries sit in alcohol, the more flavorful the cordial will be. An additional month of steeping does not harm, on the contrary. 

Filled into decorative glass bottles, nalewka makes an excellent edible gift for Christmas, as a hostess gift, etc. You don’t need to have all the bottles for gifts lined up right away. Start the amount of nalewka you think you will need for gifts, then fill it into smaller gift bottles as needed.

In Poland and other eastern European countries, homemade cordial is usually made with rectified spirit, also called neutral spirit, neutral alcohol, or rectified alcohol. It is a highly concentrated ethanol with a minimum ABV of 95 percent (190 proof). Its neutral flavor, odor, and color make it especially suitable for beverages that extract flavors from fruits, nuts, and spices. In the United States, the equivalent to rectified spirit is the Everclear brand, 190 proof. If you cannot find it, you can also use a high-proof vodka. 

Nalewka is best stored in a dark place; it keeps indefinitely. If exposed to light its color will fade. This does not affect its taste but it is less attractive, especially for gifting.

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